Strap cutting device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. F. NOVY ET AL STRAP CUTTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 25. 1930 fluent-07 5 dbemi Tim/7J2 Navy mm C. C fu'cfl Q m m ,9 J 5 J E, Q 2 7 2 2 wj 6% 2 Dec. 12, 1933- A F Y L STRAP CUTTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23, 19.30 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JW $59 if y iillllllll llllllll I.

GCbQTZZ Tim/Lb 2V0 qy Wan/7L G. (field/255 Patented Dec. 12, 1933 1,938,666 STRAP CUTTING DEVICE Albert Frank Novy, Berwyn, and William C. Childress, Oak Park, 111., assignors to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 23, 1930; Serial No. 490,606

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in strap cutting devices and its purpose is to provide a tool, capable of operation by hand, for cutting a flexible steel strap such as that which is commonly used in reenforcing packages or for binding packages together. After a flexible steel strap has been passed around a package or group of packages to be reenforced or bound together, it is necessary to cut off the strap from 0 the source of supply and it is important in cutting the strap that the ends be left in such condition that they will not injure the hands of the operator or subsequent handlers of the package. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device which may be employed for cutting a steel strap and which will leave a rounded end on both of the parts which are separated thereby. The tool is thus particularly adapted for use in preparingstraps to have the ends thereof united by means of a seal or other fastening means such as the strap seal described and claimed in the patent to Ralph H. Norton No. 1,269,016, dated March 19,

1918. With the use of such a seal, the ends of the strap are overlapped and when the present invention is employed, a rounded end. of the strap projects from each end of the seal on opposite sides of the joint. A further important object of the invention is to provide a strap cutting device having cutting dies which are readily adjusted and reversed so that'the tool has a comparatively long life without the necessity of renewing the cutting parts. A further object of the invention is to provide a strap cutting tool adapted to form a rounded end on both ends of theseparated parts of the strap and to collect the intermediate parts which are cut out by the operation of the tool so that they will not be dropped indiscriminately around the place where the tool is being used. Still another object of the invention is to provide a strap cutting tool having substantially all of its parts except one of the dies positioned beyond the edge of the strap at the time of its engagement therewith, which permits the tool to be readily passed into engagement with the strap at the desired location after the strap has been passed around a package. A further object is to provide a strap cutting tool having parts which are adjustable for permitting its use for cutting rounded ends on straps of different widths. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment is illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of the improved strap cutting device;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation thereof; v

Fig. 3 shows a bottom plan view of the strap cutting device; I

Fig. 4 shows a top'plan view of the strap ends after a segment thereof has been cut outby the 6 operation of the cutting device;

Fig. 5 shows a detail vertical section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 7 shows a transverse vertical section on the line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 shows a substantially horizontal section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and 4' Fig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of the lower cutting die in different positions illustrating its cooperation with the stationary die carried by the head of the tool.

The cutting device as illustrated in the drawings comprises a head 10 having secured thereto or formed integrally therewith a handle 11. The head 10 comprises a pair of side wallsll) having a recess between them within which is mounted the inner end of the movable operating handle or lever 12 which is capable of being moved with respect to the handle 11 by the hand which extends between the walls 10 and has a screw threaded engagement with one of these walls as shown at 13' so that it may be readily removed when desired. The inner extremity of the handle l2,beyond the pin 13, is pivotally connected at 14 with a downwardly extending link 15. This link extends through a slot 16 formed in the head 10 and the lower end thereof is pivotally connected by a pin 17 with the lower cutting die 18. The rear end of the cutting die 18 extends between two flanges 1O which are directed downwardly from the sides of the head 1 10 and a pivotal connection of the cutting die with these flanges 10 is established by means of a a pin 19 which has a screw-threaded engagement with one of the flanges 10 and which has a transverse slot 19 in the other end for engage 1 ment by a screw driver so that itmay bereadily withdrawn for the purpose of replacing or reversing the die 18. The die 18 is provided at each end thereof with an aperture 18? for engagement by the pin 19 and the die has two sets 1 of cutting edges so that either end of the die may be attached to the pin 19 and the other end thereof used for cutting purposes. The die 18 is provided adjacent each end with two oppositely disposed substantially semicircular recesses 18 between which are located the similarly shaped cutting edges 18 which thus have a curvature outwardly away from each other. Between the two pairs of recesses 18*, the cutting die 18 is provided with two transverse apertures 18 either of which may be engaged by the pivot pin 17 depending upon which set of cutting edges 18 are being used. Each end of the die 18 is provided with upper and lower endwise converging surfaces 18 which give the projecting portion of the die a taper which permits it to be passed readily beneath a strap to be cut off by the operation of the device.

When the handle 12 is moved downwardly toward the handle 11, the projecting end of the die 18 is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, and it is then adapted to cooperate with two stationary dies 20, which are carried by the head 10 and each of which is substantially cylindrical in form. These dies 20 are mounted in recesses 21 which extend upwardly from the lower face of the head 10, as shown in Fig. 5, and the upper face of each die 20 is provided with a circular recess 20 adapted to fit the circular projection 21 formed upon the lower wall of the recess in which the die is mounted. When the dies are in position engaging the projections 21 they are secured in place 1 by means of headed screws 22 passing downwardly through apertures 23 formed in the upper wall of the head. Each die 20 has a circular cutting edge 20 at the lower end thereof and the inner adjacent portions of the lower cutting edges are those which function in conjunction with the cutting edges of the lower die 18 to sever the strap when the handle 12 is operated. When the die 18 is moved upwardly, the inner lower portions of the upper cutting dies 20 are adapted to engage the recesses 18 in the lower cutting die so that the cutting edges 18 cooperate with the cutting edges of the dies 20 to sever the strap 25 which is positioned between them. Inasmuch as the recesses 18 are spaced apart transversely of the die 18 and the cutting dies 20 are similarly spaced apart transversely of the head, the operation of the tool results in the cutting out of a segment 25 from the strap at the same time that a rounded end surface 25 is formed on each of the parts of the strap which are separated by the operation of the tool. During the operation of cutting the strap, one edge thereof engages the shoulder 26 which extends downwardly from the head 10 adjacent the forward part thereof and the other edge of the strap is adapted to seat against a pair of oblong rectangular stop blocks 2''] which are secured to the under side of the head against shoulders 28 by means of screws 29. These blocks 2'7 may be turned through ninety degrees from the position shown by full linesin Fig. 3 to the position illustrated by dotted lines at 2'7 in order to adapt the tool 'for cutting a strap of different width than that which is severed by the operation of the tool with the edges of the strap engaging the blocks shown in the full line position of Fig. 3.

The head 10 is provided with a collecting chamber 30 which is formed to correspond in shape with the segments 25 which are cut out of the strap by the operation of the dies. The

lower end of this chamber 30 communicates with the space between the dies 20 so that with each operation of the tool, one of the irregular segments 25 is forced upwardly between the dies 20 to find its way eventually into the chamber 30. For the purpose of preventing these segments 25 from dropping downwardly out of the chamber 30 and assuming positions which might interfere with the position of the dies in subsequent shearing operations, each of the dies 28 is provided with a central annular knurled portion 20 and the roughened surfaces which are thus provided engage the edges of the segments 25 and hold them with the lowest segment in the position illustrated in Fig. 5. In this manner, the segments 25 are successively forced upwardly into the chamber 30 and the fact that the chamber is full and requires emptying is indicated by the upward movement of the hinged cover 31 which normally closes the major portion of the upper end of the chamber, being pivoted on the head at 32 and normally moved toward its closed position by the coiled spring 33 which is mounted on the pivot pin 32 with one end engaging the cover and the other end engaging the head.

The operating end of the die 13 is normally moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 by the action of a coil spring 35 which surrounds the link 15 within a recess 10 which extends upwardly into the bottom of the head as shown in Fig. 6, and also by a spring 36 which is interposed between the handles 11 and 12.

When the operator releases the handle 12, the

die 18 thus moves automatically to a position wherein it projects downwardly beneath the head 10 in readiness to engage a strap. Due to the fact that the dies 20 are mounted with their axes extending vertically, while the die 18 moves abouta pivot in order to bring its semicircular cutting edges in cooperation with the cutting edges of the dies 20, some means must be employed for insuring the interfitting of the dies notwithstanding this angular movement ofrecesses 18 have a similar inclination toward the center of the die which permits these semicircular surfaces to fit over and cooperate with the lower projecting surfaces of the cutting dies 20 without any binding action taking place. In

order to bring about this desirable'result, it is found that if the angularity shown at 38 be made about four degrees, sufiicient clearance is provided.

It will be apparent that the dies 20 may be turned about their axes in order to present new cutting edges along their inner adjacent sides so that a plurality of sets of cutting edges are provided by one set of dies 20. This advantageous feature, taken with the reversibility of the die 18, which permits two sets of cutting edges to be employed with the use of a single die, makes it possible to use this tool for a long period of time without renewing or sharpening the dies.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it

will be understood that-it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a head, a pair of relatively stationary dies carried by said head and spaced apart, a movable die mounted on said head and having cutting edges to cooperate with said first named dies, and means for reversing the position of said movable die on said head.

2. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a head, a pair of relatively stationary dies carried by said head and spaced apart, a movable die mounted on said head and having cutting edges to cooperate with said first named dies, means for changing the positions of said stationary dies on said head, and means for reversing the position of said movable die on said head.

3. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a head having a chamber, a pair of dies spaced apart, a movable die having a part adapted to be forced between said first named dies to cut a section from a strap and force it into said chamber, and means for operating said movable die, said first named dies being formed to prevent the accidental removal of said sections from said chamber.

4. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a head having a chamber, a pair of cylindrical dies mounted on said head and spaced apart, said dies having cutting edges at each end thereof, a movable die having cutting edges movable between said first named dies to cut a section from a strap and leave a rounded end on each portion thereof, and means for operating said movable die, the sections cut from said strap being forced into said chamber by the action of said movable die, said first named dies having roughened surfaces between their ends to prevent said sections from dropping out of said chamber.

5. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a head, a pair of relatively stationary dies mounted on theunder side of said head and spaced apart, a movable die mounted on said head and having an operating part projecting beneath said head with parts thereof adapted to enter between said first named dies for cutting a strap, a pair of relatively movable handles carried by said head for operating said movable die, said head having a shoulder against which one edge of the strap to be severed is adapted to bear beneath said first named dies, and a pair of removable stop blocks mounted on said head for engaging the other edge of said strap.

6. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a head, a pair of relatively stationary dies mounted on the under side of said head and spaced apart, a movable die mounted on said head and having an operating part projecting beneath said head with parts thereof adapted to enter between said first named dies for cutting a strap, a pair of relatively movable handles carried by said head for operating said movable die, saidhead having a shoulder against which one edge of the strap to be severed is adapted to bear beneathsaid first named dies, and a pair of removable stop blocks mounted on said head for engaging the other edge of said strap, said blocks being reversible in position to receive different widths of strap between them and said shoulder.

'7. The combination in a strap cutting device of a head having a pair of cylindrical dies mounted on the lower face thereof with their axes extending vertically, a movable die pivoted on the under side of said head and having semicircular recesses therein spaced apart to form cutting edges adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of said cylindrical dies, and means for operating said movable die, said semicircular recesses in said movable die having their axes inclined toward the pivot of said movable die to permit said movable die in said stationary dies to interfit without binding.

8. The combination in a strap cutting device, of a plurality of cutting dies adapted to sever a strap, and a reversible block having a plurality of shouldersone of which is adapted to engage an edge of said strap in each position of said block.

ALBERT FRANK NOVY. WILLIAM C. CHILDRESS. 

